CLASSIFIED POUCH - SUSPICIOUS POWDER INCIDENT

UNCLAS NIAMEY 000021 SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/SPC/WMD, AF/W, AF/RSA, AND AF/EX BAMAKO - FOR REGIONAL MEDICAL OFFICER OUAGADOUGOU - FOR RSO OFFICE FRANKFURT - FOR CO MSG REGION 7 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ADPM AMED AMGT ASEC KMSG TBIO SUBJECT: CLASSIFIED POUCH - SUSPICIOUS POWDER INCIDENT REF: RSO NIAMEY SPOT REPORT DATED 01/06/2010 ¶1. (SBU) On the morning of January 6, Post had an incident relating to a classified pouch bag and a suspicious powder inside it. The Information Management Specialist (IMS) informed the Marine at Post 1 that an incident occurred in the IPC. The IMS stated that after verifying the classified pouch seal and ID tag, she opened the pouch and at this moment, a suspicious powder was released. The IMS officer immediately sealed the class pouch inside a clear plastic trash bag and then washed her face and hands that were exposed to the powder. The Marine notified the RSO, who then directed Post 1 to react the Marines for a possible powder incident. The RSO instructed Post 1 to immediately isolate/quarantine the IPC area. RSO spoke to IMS to receive all pertinent information and instructed her to immediately contact Frankfurt to verify the contents of the pouch. RSO spoke to the DCM to advise him of a possible suspicious powder incident and to isolate the area of the incident. DCM agreed that all personnel should remain in their offices with the doors closed until the situation was resolved. The Marines then executed all protocol procedures for a suspicious powder incident. In full chemical/biological gear, two Marines moved the sealed pouch to the stand-alone mail screening facility on the Chancery grounds. Under supervision of the RSO and MSG Detachment Commander, the two Marines collected two samples of the substance and identified that there was ONE package in the pouch addressed to Post's Health Unit. RSO contacted the Nurse, who confirmed that she was expecting a package from the addressee. She added that there was nothing in the package that should cause a powder substance to appear. ONE Marine identified an approximate two-inch hole in the bottom of the class pouch bag. The Marines then decontaminated the entire mail facility, pouch, package and then themselves. The class pouch, sample collection tool and plastic bag (original sealing bag) were placed in a plastic trash can that was filled with a strong bleach-to-water ratio solution, to soak and decontaminate. All possible contaminated items were placed in plastic bags, sealed and then placed in another plastic bag, which was sealed also. Two other Marines, in full chemical/biological gear, moved to the IPC and conducted decontamination procedures for the areas that may have been exposed to the substance. The RSO instructed the IMS to conduct personal decontamination procedures in a bathroom next to the IPC; all of her clothing was then sealed in a trashbag. Upon completion of decontamination efforts, all possible contaminated clothing and gear, including the two Marines' gear, were sealed in trashbags and moved to the stand-alone screening facility. ¶2. (SBU) The following is a detailed timeline of the events that occurred: 10:10am - IMS calls Post 1 Marine to notify of a possible suspicious powder incident in a classified pouch bag. 10:11am - MSG Detachment begins react procedures. MSGs are already in the Chancery due to weekly MSG Guard School. 10:12am - Post 1 informs RSO of incident, who is off compound but returning to the Chancery. RSO advises Post 1 to quarantine the suspected contaminated area. 10:13am - Post 1 contacts Nurse in HEALTH Unit to advise her of the situation. MSGs contact GSO supply to get additional decontamination supplies. 10:20am - RSO speaks to IMS to gain all relevant information and to make an assessment of the situation. 10:25am - RSO reacts Marine MSG Team Alpha (two-man team) to don full chemical/biological gear. 10:26am - RSO informs Front Office of the situation. 10:40am - MSG Team Alpha is fully suited and ready to begin operations. RSO begins securing the route for the package to be moved out of the Chancery. MSG Team Bravo moves to stand-alone mailing facility to open it and prepare for MSG Team Alpha arrival. 10:45am - MSG Team Alpha and RSO move to IPC to get the sealed class pouch with suspicious powder in it. 10:50am - MSG Team Alpha, RSO and Detachment Commander arrive at stand-alone mailing facility. 10:52am - RSO notifies DS Command Center (DSCC) of the on-going incident and requests that DSCC contact State Ops, MED, DS/WMD and the CDC and inform them of the incident. 11:00am - MSG Team Alpha begins collecting samples. 11:20am - MSG Team Alpha completes sample collection and begins decontamination procedures. 11:25am - RSO instructs MSG Team Bravo (two-man team) to begin donning full chemical/biological gear. 11:40am - MSG Team Bravo reports to RSO that it is suited-up and ready for operations. 11:42am - MSG Team Alpha completes all decontamination procedures and stands down. 11:45am - MSG Team Bravo and RSO move to IPC area to begin the decontamination process. 11:46am - The RSO instructs IMS to conduct personal decontamination procedures in a bathroom next to the IPC. 12:10am - MSG Team Bravo completes all decontamination procedures and stands down. 12:10am - RSO announces the all-clear. RSO contacts DSCC to inform them that the incident is over and the all-clear has been given. 12:15am - IMS and MSG Team Alpha and Bravo report to Post's Health Unit to be examined and receive medication for possible exposure to chemical-biological agents. ¶3. (SBU) After Action Items: (a) RSO in coordination with DS/WMD and CDC, has shipped samples of the substance to be tested by CDC. (b) Post's HEALTH Unit conducted a Power Point presentation regarding anthrax and other chemical/biological agents with all Marines, IMS and the mailroom clerks. (c) Nurse is monitoring the HEALTH of the IMS and all Marines who may have been exposed and who are currently taking Cipro as a precautionary measure. (d) RSO will provide CDC results to all relevant entities. (e) RSO will conduct a lessons-learned meeting with the Marines, Nurse and IMS to review Post's procedures and improve any needed areas. ¶4. (U) Any questions regarding this incident can be directed to RSO Nicholas Brashich. ALLEN